Week4 - Reliability of Wikipedia source (Chaebin Park 박채빈)

1. Summary


This week, I learned how Wikipedia strives to ensure the reliability of its information. Although Wikipedia is an open platform that anyone can edit, it strictly enforces the credibility of sources. Not only the factual accuracy but also where the information comes from is extremely important. Wikipedia requires verifiable and trustworthy sources to confirm the content. This reflects the responsibility Wikipedia holds as an encyclopedia.



2. Interesting Points


One interesting aspect is that because Wikipedia evaluates information based on its sources, newly published research or fresh facts are often not immediately reflected. Even if something is true, without verified sources, it can be difficult to include on Wikipedia. This illustrates a dilemma between information reliability and information timeliness.

Also, the process where editors judge the trustworthiness of sources often leads to conflicts and negotiations, which shows that Wikipedia is more than just a “crowdsourced editing platform.” It is a systematic and rule-based community that governs itself through discussion and consensus.

Another striking point was the issue of source bias. For example, English Wikipedia tends to cite mostly Western sources, while sources from non-English-speaking or lesser-known regions are relatively underrepresented. This poses a risk to the diversity and fairness of information.

 



3. Discussion

What should we pay the most attention to when we contribute to editing Wikipedia?

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